Container and pouring spout



Aug. 13, 1935. H. BRUCKER 2,011,434

' CONTAINER AND POURING SPOUT A Filed 00TH l1, 1954 INVENTOR BY l;

ORNEY Patented ug. 13, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,011,434 I CONTAINER AND POURING sPoU'r I Henry Brucker, Maplewood, N. Application October 11, 1934, Serial No. 747,818

3 Claims. (Cl. 22d-.11) Y This invention relates to containers, or receptacles, for comminuted or granular substances, and more particularly to containers of the class having a discharge aperture and a pouring spout connected to the container for swinging movement to close the aperture or to open the same so that the contents of the container may be poured therefrom through said aperture and spout.

One object of my present invention is tcprovide a container and spout embodying improved features of construction and a novel relation whereby the discharge aperture in the container may be more effectively sealed than with devices With which containers of this class are commonly equipped. y

Another object is to provide a container having a discharge aperture land a tab cut therefrom to hingedly support the spout and completely formed during manufacture of the container so that it is normally free to be swung outwardly for application of the spout thereto from the outside of the container whereby said spout and container may be easily and quickly assembled.

Another object is to provide an improved and novel relation of tab and spout whereby they act conjointly to effectively seal the discharge aperture and are securelyheld in sealing position against accidental displacement as during packing and shipping.

Other objects are to provide a containerv and spout of the character described which are simple in construction, strong and durable, and economical to manufacture; and to obtain other advanf tages and results as will appear when the fol- 'f lowing description and claims are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing wherein like parts are designated throughout the several views by correspondingy reference characters:

Figure l is a fragmentary view in vertical transverse section of a container and spout constructed according to my invention and showing the spout applied to the container cover and in normal closed position.

Figure 2'is a similar View showing the spout in its discharge or open position and the container and spout tilted for pouring the contents of it therefrom.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in top plan of the container cover with the spout in closed position.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the container cover before the spout is applied thereto.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View in bottom plan of the container cover'with the spout applied thereto.

Figure 6 is a View in transverse section taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 3.- v l yFigure 7 is a similar view taken on the line'I-'l of Figure 2, and

Figure 8 is a perspective View of the spo-ut.

Specifically describing the illustrated'embodiment ofrny invention, the reference character l designates a container comprising a body portion 2 and a capjmember 3 forming an end Wall '4. The container l may be vformed of any suitable material such as card board, fiber board, or the like. One wall of said container, preferably the end wall 4, is provided with a'substantially rec- 1 tangular discharge aperture 5 and a correspondingly shaped tab 6 integrally connected to said wall at one Iend of said rvaperture for hinging movement into and out of the latter and for purpose presently clear.

Cooperating with the container l is .a pouring spout 'l adapted to close the aperture 5 and sel cured to said tab 6 for movement to opening and closing positions. The spout 'l is preferably formed of thin sheet `metal bent upon itself to provide a flat body portion Sand sector shaped side walls 9 at` the side edges of said body portion and having arcuate outer edges I0 concentric with the .axis of movement of the tab 6. Said spout is of the same width as the aperture 5 so as to frictionally engage the outer faces of theside walls with theside edges of said aperture 5,v and the body portion 8 is longer than said tab 6 to provide an extension ll projecting beyond the free end of said tab 6 for a purpose to be explained, A pair of prongs l2 is shown on the body portion 8 for securing the spout to the tab 6, but more prongs may be provided ifdesired. At least one prong is disposed adjacent the hinged end of the tab 6. f Y l In applying the spout 'Lside walls 9 of the spout are slipped through the slots between the sides of the aperture and the `edges of the tab, and the spout is then placed over the tab with the body portion 8 overlying the outer face thereof and the side walls 9 engaging the side edges of the aperture 5. The body portion 8 is then secured to said tab 5 by forcing the prongs l2 through the tab and clinching them, as shown in Figures 2, 5, and '7, to positively connect the tab and body portion together and prevent relative movement or displacement thereof. When the tab 6 and spout 'l are swung inwardly until said body portion 8 lies flat against the wall 4, the aperture 5 is closed, the side walls 9 seal the side edges thereof by friction, and the extension II engages said Wall to seal the corresponding end of said aperture and also serves as a stop limiting further movement of said spout in a closing direction.

A particular feature of my invention is a xed tongue I3 at the iree end of the aperture 5, formed by an extension of said wall 4, the free end of which is adapted to be frictionally engaged by the free end of the tab 6 in closing position of the spout 1 to hold the latter in said position and to also form an additional seal at the free end of said aperture. As shown in Figure 5, the tongue I3 extends between the side walls 9 of the spout 1 and the side edges of the tongue engage said walls tor hold them apart and in frictional engagement with the side `edges of the aperture 5.

To additionally seal the aperture 5, and as shown in Figure 5, the tab 6 is imperforate and fits flush against the inner face of the body portion 8 of the spout 1 and also against the inner faces of the side walls 9 of `saidspout to thereby form a seal between the taband'spout and retard entrance or exit of air or moisture into or from the container between said tab and thelspout.

When it is desired to open the aperture to pour the contents of the container through the spout 1, the latter is moved to open position by grasping the extension II and swinging the tab 6 and spout outwardly. To limit such outward movement, lugs I4 are provided on the side members 9 for engagement with the inner face ofthe wall 4. If desired a protecting piece of paper I5 may be pasted to the wall 4 to cover said spout1 in its closed position although this is not essential to my invention.

With the described construction and relation of container and spout, the aperture 5 is completely sealed around its edges and double sealed at the vital point, i. e. its free end, las will be clear. This is particularly advantageous in a container designed for use with goods such as coffee, tea, or spices, which as is well known deteriorate when exposed to atmospheric air for any length of time. As will be manifest the tongue I3 and tab 6 form in eflect'a frictionV lock for the spout 1 which together with the aperture 5 and tab 6 may be stamped or cut out of the Wall 4 in one operation and whereby the carton may be economically manufactured. ByV completely forming the aperture 5, tab 6 and tongue I3 in the manner described, they may be provided with clean cut straight edges nicely fitting the side Walls 9 ofthe spout 1 and forming a tight fit between said tab and tongue.

While I have shown and described my inven- Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a container having a substantially rectangular discharge aperture in one Wall thereof, of a tab hingedly connected to said wall at one end of the aperture for swinging movement into and out of said aperture, and a pouring spout secured to said tab for movement therewith to open and close said aperture and comprising a body portionV overlying said tab and provided with an extension adapted to project beyond the free end of said tab and the other end of said aperture for engagement with said wall in the closed position of the spout to limit closing movement of the spout and to sea-1 said outer end of said aperture, and sector shaped side walls on said body portion having their outer faces frictionally engaging the side edges of said aperture to seal said edges in the closed position of said spout, said tab being imperforate and tting flush against the inner face of the body 'portion of said spout and also against the inner facesof the side walls to form a seal between said tab and` spout, and the free end of vsaid tab frictionally engaging said wall to hold the spout in closed position.

2. The combination with a container having a substantially rectangular discharge aperture in lone wall thereof, of a tab hingedly connected at p,

one end of the aperture to said wall for swinging movement into and out yof said aperture, and

a pouring spout secured tosaid tab for movement therewith to open and close said aperture f and comprising a body portion overlying ,said tab and provided with an extension adapted to pro-v ject beyond the free end of said tab and the otherr end of the aperture for engagement with said wall in the closed position of said spout to limity closing movement of the spout and to seal said other end of,v the aperture, and sector shaped side walls on said body portion frictionally engaging the side edges of the aperture, and a tongue extending from said other end of said aperture be-v tween said walls for holdingrsaid walls in frictional engagement with theyside edges of the aperture, the free end of the tab frictionallyjengaging said tongue in the closed position ofthe of a substantially rectangular aperture; and a tab integrally connected at one end to said wall` for hinging movement into and out yof said` aperture,

the wall of the container forming a short tongue at 4the opposite end of saidaperture in the plane thereof having a free end adapted to be frictional- W ly engaged by the free end of said tab to khold said tongue in said aperture, the side edges of said tab and tongue being slightly spaced from the side 5 edges of said aperture to frictionally receive portions of a pouring spout.

HENRY BRUCKER. 

